JPS5939332B2 - Automotive equipment operating device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an equipment operating device for an automobile, and for example, to an equipment that can easily operate equipment such as a damper for switching the outlet of an air conditioner for an automobile by using the negative pressure of the automobile.

Conventionally, in automotive air conditioners, when manually operating devices such as pie-level dampers, these devices and the operating lever provided in the driver's seat control box are usually connected with a wire cable. The speaker is moved to a predetermined operating position by manually operating a control lever.

However, the conventional configuration described above has a drawback in that the operating lever becomes difficult to operate due to the influence of wind pressure in the ventilation path of the air conditioner.

In addition, since the operating force required by the operating lever is large, the structure of the operating lever, wire cable, etc. must be strengthened, and the mounting structure for these components must also be strengthened at the same time, which increases costs. It has the disadvantage of becoming.

In view of the above points, the present invention uses a diaphragm actuator that uses negative pressure to drive equipment such as a pie level damper, and an electric pneumatic circuit that adjusts the negative pressure to the diaphragm actuator for manual operation in a control box. To provide an equipment operating device for an automobile, which is configured so that it is sufficient to operate a manual electric switch for controlling a switch, and allows the equipment to be easily operated with a small operating force.

The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a heater unit of an automobile air conditioner and its damper control system.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a heater case made of resin, which houses a heater core 4 and the like whose heat source is engine cooling water, and forms a ventilation passage.

On the upstream side of the heater case 1, a well-known internal/external air switching box, a blower, a refrigerant evaporator, etc. (not shown) are installed.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an air mix damper, which is rotatable around a shaft 2a, and controls the blowout temperature by controlling the amount of air passing through the heater core 4 and the heater core bypass path 4a by adjusting the opening degree of this damper. .

3 is a pie level damper for switching the air outlet, which is coupled to a shaft 3a inserted into a hole 1a of the heater case 1;
By freely rotating around a, the upper passage 5,
It has a structure that controls the rate of air blowing to the lower passage 6.

An upper air outlet (not shown) for cooling and ventilation is provided at the tip of the upper passage 5 to blow air toward the upper body of the occupant inside the vehicle, and an upper air outlet (not shown) for blowing air toward the occupant's feet is provided at the tip of the lower passage 6. A lower heating outlet (not shown) is provided for blowing out air.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a lever, one end of which is fixed to the protruding end of the shaft 3a to the outside of the case 1, so that it moves in the same way as the pie-level damper 3.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a device interlocking switch, which includes an insulating base part '9 made of resin and provided with two arc-shaped fixed contacts 9e and 9f.
d, and this base portion 9d is fixed to a bracket 9k together with a shaft 9c.

A ring-shaped portion at one end of the lever 9a is loosely fitted onto the shaft 9c, so that the lever 9a can rotate around the shaft 9c.

In addition, a movable contact 9b is installed in the middle of the lever 9a,
If the lever 9a rotates counterclockwise by a certain amount or more, the movable contact 9b becomes a fixed contact 9e, and if the lever 9a rotates by a certain amount or more in the opposite direction, that is, clockwise, the movable contact 9b becomes a movable contact.

The structure is such that the terminals 9b are switched and connected to the fixed contacts 9f, respectively.

The bracket 9 is fastened to a part of the heater case 1 with screws.

8 is a connecting rod, one end of which is connected to the joint 91 of the lever part 9a, and the other end connected to the joint 7a of the lever 7, and each joint 7a, 9i
It can be rotated freely.

Therefore, when the pie level damper 3 and the lever 7 rotate, the lever 9a of the switch 9 also moves in a similar manner about the shaft 9c via the connecting rod 8.

10 is a diaphragm actuator, which includes a diaphragm 10a, a built-in spring 10b10, and a spring 10c.
It has an atmospheric chamber 10d, a negative pressure chamber 10e, a case 10f, and a negative pressure inlet 10g. By introducing negative pressure, diaphragm 1
By moving the rod 0a and the rod 10c to the lower side of the figure, the pie level damper 3 can be operated.

Further, this diaphragm actuator 10 is fixed to a part of the heater case 1 via a bracket 10h with screws or the like.

Reference numeral 11 denotes an electric air circuit switch, which connects an opening 11a leading to a negative pressure tank (not shown) and a communication port 11g, usually by passing current through one coil 11b and opening a valve 11c, which also leads to the atmosphere side. Opening 11d and communication port 11g
Continuity is established by passing current through the other coil 11f and valve 11e.
The valves 11c and 11e open the openings 11a and 11d by the force of a spring (not shown) when the current to the coils 11b and 11f is cut off. close.

Furthermore, the communication port 11g and the diaphragm actuator 1
Since the inlet port 11g of 0 is connected by the negative pressure piping 13, when the current is passed through the coil 11f, the atmosphere is introduced into the chamber 10e of the diaphragm actuator 10, and when the current is passed through the coil 11b, the atmosphere is introduced into the chamber 10e of the diaphragm actuator 10. Pressure can be respectively introduced into the chambers 10e of the diaphragm actuator 10 to actuate the diaphragm 10a.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an air conditioning control box installed in the instrument panel inside the vehicle, and a resin base 12a is rotatably provided with a manually operated switch knob 12b. two switch levers 12c that rotate in conjunction with each other;
12d are connected.

12e is a switch knob 12b and a switch lever 12
12f is the shaft at which the rotation of the switch lever 12d is centered.

Two switch levers 12c and 12d (l) each serve as a movable contact and are connected to the coil 11b of the electric air circuit switch 11 described above.

11f, respectively.

Furthermore, fixed contacts 12g are positioned on the rotation loci of the tips of the two switch levers 12c and 12d, respectively.

12h, 12ic! : Fixed contacts 12j, 12, 12d
is insulated and fixed to the base 12a.

The center fixed contacts 12h and 12 are electrically connected to the fixed contacts 9f and 9e of the device interlocking switch 9, respectively, and the rightmost fixed contact 12g and the leftmost fixed contact 1 in the figure
21 are both electrically connected to a power source battery 15 of the automobile via an air conditioning activation switch 14.

Further, the remaining fixed contacts 12i and 12j are open contacts that are not electrically connected anywhere.

The members 12c to 12A constitute two manual electric switches that are switched to a plurality of positions in conjunction with each other by manual operation of the switch knob 12b.

Note that the movable contact 9b of the device interlocking switch 9 is electrically connected to the power source battery 15 via the air conditioning operation switch 14.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

When the air conditioning operation switch 14 is turned on, a compressor, a blower, etc. (not shown) are operated, and the air conditioner is put into operation.

In this state, if the occupant selects only downward blowing, set the switch knob 12b of the control box 12 to position A as shown in FIG.

Then, the switch lever 12c. 12d is G,
Since the switch lever 12c contacts the fixed contact 12g, the current from the power source 15 flows to the coil 11b, and the valve 11c opens, so that the communication port 11
Negative pressure is introduced to g, and the diaphragm actuator 1
Negative pressure is introduced into the zero chamber 10e.

As a result, the diaphragm 10a and the rod 10e are sucked downward in the figure, so the damper 3 is set to the A' position in FIG. 2 via the lever 7, closing the upper passage 5 and opening only the lower passage 6. open.

Therefore, the air can only be blown downward.

Next, if only upward blowing is to be selected, the switch knob 12b of the control box 12 is set to position B as shown in FIG.

Then, the switch levers 12c and 12d are set to I, respectively.
Since the switch lever 12d is moved to the L position and comes into contact with the fixed contact 121, the current from the power source 15 flows to the coil 11f.

Therefore, since the valve 11e is opened and the atmosphere is introduced into the communication port 11g, the built-in spring 10b of the diaphragm actuator 10 causes the diaphragm 10a10 to
0c returns to the upper side of the figure, and the damper 3 is set to the B' position in the figure via the lever 7, closing the lower passage 6 and opening the upper passage 5, so that only upward blowing can be performed.

Next, when the occupant selects the pie level blowout mode, that is, blowing from both the upper and lower sides, as shown in FIG. 4, the switch knob 12b of the control box 12
from position A in Figure 2 to intermediate position C.

Then, the two switch levers 12c and 12d move to the H position and come into contact with the fixed contacts 12h and 12, respectively.

At this time, the movable contact 9b provided on the lever 9a of the switch 9 is in contact with the fixed contact 9e due to the damper 3 being in the A' position, so from the power source 15 the switch 14→contact 9b→contact 9e→ A circuit is formed from the contact 12 to the switch lever 12d and then to the coil 11f, and the coil 11f is energized.

As a result, the valve 11e opens, and the atmosphere is introduced into the diaphragm actuator 10, and the lever 7 begins to rotate in the direction of arrow A. At the same time, the rod 8 and lever 9a also move upward in the figure, and the contact 9b becomes the contact 9e. further apart, and contact point 9
The damper 3 and the lever 7 stop at a position where they do not make contact with f.

That is, when contact 9b separates from contact 9e, coil 1
Since the energization to 1f is cut off and the valve 11e returns to the closed state, the introduction of atmospheric air into the chamber 10e of the diaphragm actuator 10 is stopped, and a predetermined amount of negative pressure remains in the chamber 10e.

Therefore, when the contact 9b separates from the contact 9e, the movement of the damper 3 and the lever 7 is stopped due to the balance between the residual negative pressure and the spring 10b, and the damper 3 is moved to a predetermined intermediate position C'.
It can be set to

This allows wind to be blown into the vehicle interior from above and below at the same time.

Further, the ratio of the air volume blown from above and from below can be changed by adjusting the intermediate opening position C' of the damper 3.

Conversely, the switch knob 12b of the control box 12
When moved from position B to position C in Fig. 3, contact 9b comes into contact with contact 9f as shown in Fig.
A circuit is formed from → contact 12h → switch lever 12c → coil 11b, and the coil 11b is energized.

As a result, the valve 11c opens, and negative pressure is introduced into the diaphragm actuator 10, so the damper 3
At the same time, the rod 8 and the lever 9a also rotate, and the damper 3 stops at a position where the contact point 9b is separated from the contact point 9f, and the damper 3 can be set at a predetermined position C'.

Furthermore, even if the damper 3 is moved from C' due to an external force with the switch knob 12b set to the position C as described above, the diaphragm is activated by the action of the switch 9 in exactly the same manner as described above. By supplying atmospheric pressure or negative pressure to the actuator 10, the damper 3 is always maintained at C.
', so that the damper 3 can always be set at the position of the switch knob 12b.

Note that, although the above-described embodiments show preferred embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto and can be modified in various ways, and can be implemented in a wide range of modes as exemplified below.

(1) In the above embodiment, the damper 3 is connected via the rod 8, but it goes without saying that the rod 8 may be replaced with a control cable.

(2) The manual electric switch mechanism of the control box 12 is not limited to a rotary type, but may be a sliding type, a one-touch push button type, or the like.

(3) The device interlocking switch 9 is not limited to the rotary type as described above, but may also be a sliding type in which two contact mechanisms are brought into close contact with each other so as to be able to reciprocate.

(4) In addition to the pie-level damper 3, the device to be operated can be operated in the same way with the outside/outside air switching damper (3-position control of outside air intake, inside air intake, and simultaneous inside and outside air intake) of the air conditioner, and other devices other than the air conditioner. The present invention is similarly applicable to the operation of the equipment.

(5) In the above embodiment, the lever 9a of the device interlocking switch 9 is rotated via the lever 7 and the rod 8, but the lever 7 and the rod 8 may be omitted.

In other words, it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained by directly attaching the rotational center shaft 9c of the lever 9a of the switch 9 to the rotational center shaft 3a of the damper 3 and directly rotating the lever 9a as the damper 3 rotates. stomach.

(6) The electric pneumatic circuit switch 11 may be constructed by combining two independent solenoid valves having the same specifications as shown in FIG.

As described above, the present invention controls the negative pressure supplied to the diaphragm actuator by operating the electric pneumatic circuit switch according to the operating position of the manual electric switch that can be easily operated by hand, and the diaphragm actuator is used to operate the damper, etc. Since the target device is being driven, there is no need to directly drive devices such as dampers with manual operating force, and the device can be driven in three stages: open, close, and intermediate using negative pressure. This has the excellent effect of allowing equipment such as dampers to be easily operated with a very light operating force.

In addition, a manual operation lever with a reinforced structure as before,
It does not require any control cables, and can be made small, lightweight, and inexpensively.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, an extremely simple structure combining one movable contact and two fixed contacts can be used as an equipment interlocking switch, and therefore the equipment interlocking switch can be manufactured at low cost and its reliability can be improved. Dogs have the effect of increasing sex.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an air conditioner for an automobile showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 5 are explanatory views of the operation of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing another example of the electric pneumatic circuit switch 11 of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Heater case, 3...Pie level damper which is a device to be operated, 9...Device interlocking switch, 9b...Movable contact, 9e, 9f・
...Fixed contact, 10...Diaphragm actuator, 11...Electric air circuit switch, 11b, 11f...Coil, 11c,
11 e"" valve, 12"-control box, 12
b...Manually operated switch knob, 12c,
12d...Switch lever of manual electric switch, 12g, 12h, 12i, 12j. 12, 121... Fixed contact.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A diaphragm actuator that drives equipment that requires strong operating force, such as a damper, and a valve that selectively introduces negative pressure or atmospheric pressure into this diaphragm actuator are electrically connected using two coils. an electric pneumatic circuit breaker that controls the operation of the equipment; two manual electric switches that are installed in locations that are easily accessible by passengers in the vehicle and that are manually operated to switch to multiple positions in conjunction with each other; and the movement of the equipment. an equipment interlocking switch having a movable contact that is displaced in accordance with a circuit that energizes one coil of the air circuit breaker, or a circuit that energizes the other coil of the electric air circuit breaker only with the other manual electric switch, and another specific operating position of the manual electric switch; Here, a circuit that energizes one coil of the electric air circuit switch via one manual electric switch and one fixed contact and movable contact of the device interlocking switch,
Or, an automobile equipment operating device, comprising a circuit that energizes the other coil of the electric pneumatic circuit breaker via the other manual electric switch and the other fixed contact and movable contact of the equipment interlocking switch. .